Tool shelf and apron for aerial cage

ABSTRACT

A combination shelf and apron of U-shaped configuration molded from reinforced synthetic resin and having horizontal shelf areas with apron walls extending upwardly from the outer edges of said shelf areas to provide increased safety for a workman in an aerial platform or cage and also provide shelf areas to support tools. The shelf and apron unit is readily attachable to the upper rail of existing aerial platforms and cages and has attaching means to engage the same.

United States Patent Bed es et al. I 1 A r. 17 1973 [541 TOOL SHELF AND APRON FOR 2.994.557 8/196! King .197 153 AERIAL CAGE 3,139,154 6/!964 Etwuld 132/129 [75] Inventors: Melvin Ronald Hedges, Littlestown; ,5 2; 3:5 :3 Cyril J Rickrode, New Oxford both g I of Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Machado [73] Assignee: Cam Industries, Inc., Hanover, Pa. AttorneyC. Hercus Just 22 F] d: D 6 1971 l 1 ec [57 ABSTRACT [21] App]. No.: 204,956

A combination shelf and apron of U-shaped configuration molded from reinforced synthetic resin and hav- [52] US. Cl ..l82/129, 182/2 ing horizontal h lf amas i apron walls extending [51] III-It. Cl ..E04g 5/00 p y from the outer edges of said Shelf areas to [58] Field of Search ..l82/129, 2; 297/148, provide increased Safety for a workman in an aerial 297/150 390 platform or cage and also provide shelf areas to support tools. The shelf and apron unit is readily attacha- [56] References Cited ble to the upper rail of existing aerial platforms and UNITED STATES PATENTS cages and has attaching means to engage the same.

2,798,652 7/l957 Easton ..182/129 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures TOOL SHELF AND APRON FOR AERIAL CAGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many types of aerial ladders are now employed in installation and repair operations by various utility companies such as telephone companies, electric light companies and the like. Such ladders are mounted upon the chassis of various kinds of trucks and most of them have either ladders or booms which are adapted to be pivotally raised to elevated locations, whereby acage or' platform on the upper end of the boom or ladder may be located in various elevated positions so that workmen who are in said cages, platforms or bucketlike arrangements may work at said elevated positions.

In general, the platforms, baskets or cages which are commonly in use at present have upper edges or rails which are approximately waist-high. Accordingly, on occasions when it is desirable or necessary for a workman to lean outwardly from the upper edge of the cage, basket or platform, risk of falling sometimes occurs. Further, such cages, platforms or baskets do not include convenient means for supporting tools or mechanisms with which it is necessary for the workmen to operate in connection with their work. It is conventional for workmen of this type to have belts upon which many types of tools are suspended but. under such circumstances, much time is wasted in pulling a tool from a loop in a belt and restoring the same to the loop at the completion of the operation. It would be much more handy and time-saving if shelf means or the like were provided upon which a workman could temporarily lay a tool or group of tools, devices or otherwise incident to the performance of his duties.

SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a combination shelf and apron which is substantially U-shaped in plan view and is provided with a horizontal shelf area around the sides and front of the same as well as having upstanding walls of limited height which are integrally connected to the outer edges of the shelf areas, such walls affording a safety feature, and somewhat of a shield from weather elements while the shelf areas provide ready means upon which tools may be placed by a workman for convenient access.

Another object of the invention is to form the combination shelf and apron unitarily from reinforced synthetic resin such as a molded layup comprising laminated fiberglass and epoxy resin, whereby strength and ease of manufacture are provided.

A further object of the invention is to form means around the inner edges of the shelf areasof the device for purposes of facilitating the attachment of the combination shelf and apron to the upper rail or edge members of conventional platforms, cages or baskets and thus render the advantages of the present invention available for such means.

A further object of the invention is to shape the upper edges of the upstanding walls of the device so as to be curved outwardly and provide a comfortable means which may be gripped by a workman for support or stability and, in addition, the inner edge of the shelf areas of the device are elevated a limited distance 1 above the plane of the shelf areas so as to provide a wall-like arrangement to prevent tools from accidentally falling from the shelf areas when the device IS in use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide loop means adjacent the outer ends of the shelf areas of the device to which a safety chain or belt may be connected at its opposite ends to said loops for purposes of extending across the normally rear opening of the cage, basket or platform, and thereby provide increased safety for the workman.

Details of the foregoing objects and of the invention, as well as other objects thereof, are set forth in the foling drawing comprising a part thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an exemplary platform arrangement of commercial type shown in phantom, which is adjustably connected to the outer end of a ladder or boom and shows in full lines a combination shelf and apron embodying the principles of the present invention connected to the upper edge thereof, anoutline of an exemplary workman being shown in normal working position within the platform device.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the shelf and apron unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical rear elevation of the exemplary platform structure shown in FIG. l and illustrated in phantom, while the combination shelf and apron comprising the invention are shown in full lines as being connected to the upper edge of said platform.

a DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. I, there is illustrated fragmentarily the outer end of a ladder or boom 10. The ladder or boom is intended solely to be exemplary rather than restrictive in illustration. Similarly, the platform unit 12 likewise is merely illustrative or exemplary rather than restrictive and is representative of a conventional commercial type platform, cage or bucket," of which many types are available for use particularly by the public utility industries. An arcuate segment 14 comprises part of an exemplary mechanism for maintaining angular adjustment between the ladder or boom 10 and the platform unit 12. After the boom or ladder has been elevated to a desired location, the workman 16, for example, may ascend the ladder l0 and, before entering the platform unit, the angle of the unit 12 is adjusted with respect to the ladder or boom 10 by manipulating the arcuate segment 14 and incidental latch means, not shown, which cooperate therewith to maintain a desired angular relationship between the platform unit 12 and the ladder or boom 10.

In FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the platform structure, .12 is illustrated in phantom because it only serves as a basis or background for illustrating and describing the present invention. For purposes of providing a complete description however, at least certain details of the platform unit 12 now will be described in detail. Thus, the unit 12 includes a floor grid or panel 18 to which side panels 20, of limited height, are connected. Preferably, the side of the floor panel 18 nearest the upper end of the ladderor boom 12 has no side panel connected thereto in order to facilitate the workman entering the platform 12.

In the particular type of platform illustrated, it comprises a pair of vertical members 22, which may be in the nature of angle irons. They respectively are connected at the lower ends to opposite sides of the floor panel 18, by suitable rivet or bolt means, while the upper ends of the members 22 are securely connected to top side frame members 24 which, likewise, also may be formed from angle iron material. Preferably, not only are a pair of top side frame members 24 provided but, in addition, an additional similar top front member 26, such as a section of angle iron, is connected at its ends to the forward ends of the top side frame members 24 and thus provides a U-shaped upper rail or frame member for the conventional platform unit 12 which is available, commercial construction.

In order to brace the forward edge of the floor panel 18 and its side panels 20, the platform unit 12 includes a pair of diagonally extending brace members 28 which, also, may be in the nature of angle irons. .To facilitate the connection of the braces 28 to the vertical members 22, connection plates 30 are provided which are suitably affixed to the vertical members 22 by rivets, bolts or otherwise. A typical arrangement thereof is shown in exemplary manner in FIG. 1.

For purposes of bracing the forward end of the top side frame members 24, additional diagonal braces 32, which likewise may be in the nature of angle irons of suitable cross-sectional dimension, are connected respectively, by rivets, bolts or otherwise, to the con- .nection plates 30 and the forward ends of the top side frame members 24, as illustrated in exemplary manner in FIG. 1. The construction just described comprises theconventional platform unit 12 of a commercial type, to which the combination shelf and apron 34, which comprises the present invention, is adapted to be connected. Details thereof are as follows:

The combination shelf and apron 34 preferably is formed from appropriate synthetic resins which may be selected from such class of resins as epoxies, and polyesters. Resins of this type'are commonly used to form rigid types of structures such as dish pans, chair seats, and many other type of plastic articles. Preferably, the resin is reinforced with a laminated layer of fiberglass layups. Conventionally, such a mat of fiberglass layups are impregnated with one of the resins, for example, of the type referred to above. The reinforced mat and resin then is compressed between suitable die members, accompanied by suitable temperature conditions, to produce a rigid, cured structure which is capable of long life. It also is resistant to weather conditions and possesses appreciable tensile strength as well as rigidity and resistance to bending or twisting.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the combination shelf and apron 34 comprises a substantially U-shaped shelf 36 which is formed by molding, unitarily, with the vertical side members 38. The upper edges of the side members 38 are rounded, as shown best in FIG. 3, to provide a suitable rim 40 which may be engaged comfortably by the hands of the workman 16, as well as providing reinforcing and rigidity to the upper edges'of the side members 38.

The inner edges of the U-shaped member 36 also are disposed at a somewhat higher level than the principal areas of the shelf member 36 to provide a rim 42 which is complementary to the upper surfaces of the top side frame members 24 and the top front member 26 which comprises protective rails for the platform unit 12. It thus will be seen that the rim 42 provides automatic positioning means by which the combination shelf and apron unit 34 may be seated upon the upper perimeter of the platform unit 12 and be secured thereto by appropriatemeans such as bolts, not shown, which are adapted to be projected through the holes 44, for example, provided in the rim 42 as clearly shown in FIG. 2.

For purposes of providing additional safety, particularly at the rear end of the platform unit 12 and the combination shelf and apron member 34, the present invention also provides a pair of eyelets or loops 46 respectively connected to the inner edges of the outer ends of the sides of the U-shaped shelf member 36, as clearly shown particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3. Such eyelets or loops 46 may also be used to provide part of the securing means by which the combination shelf and apron unit 34 are secured to the upper rim members of the platform unit 12.

The eyelets or loops are of suitable size to receive connecting rings 48 which, as shown in FIG. 3, respectively are connected to the upper ends of two sections of safety chain 50, which are connected together, for example, by a snap hook 52 or any other suitable type of quickly connectable securing means. As shown in FIG. 1, for example, the chain 50 is adapted to extend transversely across the mid portion of the workman l6 and thereby prevent his accidental exit from the platform unit 12. However, simply by disconnecting the snap hook 52 the workman may readily remove himself from the platform unit 12 and descend the ladder 10 or be moved to a lower level automatically by movement of the boom in the event the element 10 is a boom rather than a ladder.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention, by providing a combination shelf and apron 34, which is formed from durable, reinforced synthetic resin, provides not only safety means for the workman but also provides a convenient and handy means for accommodating tools with which the workman operates which may be disposed upon the shelf member 36 of the unit 34. Due to the elevated nature of the rim 42 of the shelf member 36, it will be apparent that tools may be maintained upon the shelf areas in reasonable safety against accidentally dropping from such shelf areas, either by rolling thereform or otherwise. Further, due to the height of the side members 38, additional safety is afforded the workman.

In actuality, the side members 38 may be ofthe order of 7 or 8 inches in height, but this dimension is indicated by way of example rather than restriction. Further, it will be seen from such exemplary dimension that the side members 38 offer a certain amount of shielding from wind forces, and thereby possibly prevent wind from blowing tools or other elements from the shelf means 36 while a workman is engaged in working when supported by the platform unit 12.

It further will be seen that the rounded rim or upper edges 40 of the side members 38 not only strengthen and render rigid the upper edges of said side members but also provide a convenient and comfortable means to be grasped by the hands of the workman such, for

example, as when a gust of wind might blow him or while being raised or lowered relative to a working position, particularly if the supporting member for the platform unit is a boom 10.

It also will be evident that connecting the combination shelf and apron 34 comprising the present invention to existing platform units or the like can be accomplished readily by means of simple tools which, in-

cidentally, may include an electric drill to form appropriate holes in the rim members 24 and 26 of the platform unit 12 in the event suitable holes are not al-' ready available. if desired, U-shaped clamping bolts, not shown, may be used for such purpose. Likewise, the eyelets 46 quickly may be installed for purposes of attaching the safety chain 50 thereto. in addition, the material from which the combination shelf and apron unit 34 are formed not only provides a unit which is durable and capable of lasting for long periods of time but, similarly, it is very rigid and resistant to fracture and deterioration from weather conditions. Further, the combination shelf and apron 34 may be attached with equal facility either to newly constructed platform units, cages or baskets, but likewise readily may be attached to existing, used units of such type.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in its preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as illustrated and described.

We claim:

l. A combination tool shelf and safety apron for an aerial cage having upper rail means and supported by the outer end of a boom carried by a service vehicle and adapted to be projected and elevated to a work location, said shelf and apron comprising a unitary substantially horizontal shelf which is U-shaped in plan view to provide a forward and opposite side areas connected thereto to support tools and the like, the inner edges of at least certain of said areas being substantially parallel to said horizontal shelf and complementary to and adapted to be connected to the upper rail means of said cage and displaced upwardly above the level of said shelf a limited distance to provide a seat to receive said upper rail means for connection of said shelf thereto, and side panel apron means extending substantially vertically upwardly from all outer edges of said shelf a very substantially greater distance than the displaced distance of said inner edges of said shelf to add height to said cage and increase the safety nature thereof and also comprise limited shielding means from weather elements.

2. The shelf and apron according to claim 1 in which said weatherproof material is reinforced synthetic resin molded into a unitary structure.

3. The shelf and apron according to claim 1 in which the upper edges of said apron means are curved outwardly; and downwardly a short distance to provide a hand gripping rolled edge surface for a workman and also brace said apron against bending to enhance the strength and rigidity thereof. 

1. A combination tool shelf and safety apron for an aerial cage having upper rail means and supported by the outer end of a boom carried by a service vehicle and adapted to be projected and elevated to a work location, said shelf and apron comprising a unitaRy substantially horizontal shelf which is U-shaped in plan view to provide a forward and opposite side areas connected thereto to support tools and the like, the inner edges of at least certain of said areas being substantially parallel to said horizontal shelf and complementary to and adapted to be connected to the upper rail means of said cage and displaced upwardly above the level of said shelf a limited distance to provide a seat to receive said upper rail means for connection of said shelf thereto, and side panel apron means extending substantially vertically upwardly from all outer edges of said shelf a very substantially greater distance than the displaced distance of said inner edges of said shelf to add height to said cage and increase the safety nature thereof and also comprise limited shielding means from weather elements.
 2. The shelf and apron according to claim 1 in which said weatherproof material is reinforced synthetic resin molded into a unitary structure.
 3. The shelf and apron according to claim 1 in which the upper edges of said apron means are curved outwardly and downwardly a short distance to provide a hand gripping rolled edge surface for a workman and also brace said apron against bending to enhance the strength and rigidity thereof. 